Tuesday, 4 November 2014

The Upside Of Living Without Cable TV

After waiting for weeks to be reactivated, sending emails
and getting automated replies, tweeting at their handle and being
ignored and dealing with really crappy customer care executives, I decided I
had had it with DSTV. I stopped renewing my subscription. I was just upset and
I figured it wasn’t by force to buy stuff from people who didn’t really care
whether or not I was happy about their service.

Now, you must understand how big a decision that was for me.
For someone who can watch the various crime channels all day, I wasn’t sure how
long I was going to be able to stay angry.

You know, I used to wonder what my fascination was with
whodunit. There is just something about a crime story and the way detectives
analyze and struggle to unravel the mystery behind a death, abduction or
disappearance. One time, I became so bothered I asked the baba who lived at the
junction not too far from my house. He said we should wait for a full moon. We
did. When we saw one, he stared at it for a full minute and then told me the
truth. My child, he said, in your other life, you were not even Nigerian. Oh
yeah? I asked intrigued. So, who was I? You were born in the UK, and at 23
married the famous Sherlock Holmes. Huh? Isn't Sherlock a fictional
character?No... baba said. In the planet where you lived before, Ogbeni Sherlock worked at Scotland Yard. I grinned. Baba...But it all made sense.So that’s why I’m attracted to all them
crime stories eh? Yes, he nodded wisely.

As treatment for my addiction, he prescribed 3 tablespoons
of Yoyo Bitters and one bulb of onion per week. My ailment is now under
control.

Sorry for digressing.

(Please, I hope you did not take that story seriously?
Incase you did, free yourself o)

Sorry for digressing.

I have said all of this to let you know I suffered serious
withdrawal symptoms when I boycotted DSTV. But something amazing happened even
though I didn’t notice at first. I found other ways to get most of the
information I would have watched on Cable TV. And I also found other things to
do with my time. I felt and still feel less depressed and agitated about all
the bad things happening all over the globe. I have more time for books. I
sleep earlier than I would have if I were watching Paula Zahn. I wake up rested
and brimming with hope. I finished a book I had been struggling to write forever. The most amazing thing that happened to me is this – I have come to realise (All by myself mind you) that I am still
alive, I can breath, without cable TV. Praise God somebody.

Which brings me to the moral of this somewhat convoluted story: There
is a clear difference between needs and wants. Sadly, most of us have both
confused and spend energy and money on wants that have taken on the appearance of
needs. Some of the things we so desperately chase after, do we really need
them? Are we overestimating their potential to bring joy, fulfilment and happiness when what
we have is enough? huh?

P.s – I have been DSTV free for almost 2 years now. At this rate I just might
dash somebody my decoder :D

5 comments:

At first i thought you wanted to drop a bombshell on DSTV's recent discrepancies i.e. 5 mins booting, sudden trip off and so on but funnily you brought something absolutely different. I quite agree what your friend said about milking your social capital. You are GOOD!!